- 1. Penelope Fitzgerald by Hermione Lee is a comprehensive and insightful biography that delves into the life and work of one of the most respected British novelists of the 20th century. Lee meticulously explores Fitzgerald's multifaceted life, from her early years in a tumultuous family environment to her later achievements as a celebrated author, shedding light on her unique blend of wit, poignancy, and intellectual rigor. The biography captures Fitzgerald's perseverance, particularly her late start in writing novels, which ultimately earned her prestigious accolades, including the Booker Prize. Lee not only analyzes Fitzgerald's literary contributions and stylistic evolution but also places them within the broader context of her personal struggles and societal changes in post-war Britain. This work serves as both a homage to Fitzgerald's artistic legacy and a critical exploration of the influences that shaped her writing, making it an essential read for fans of literature and biography alike.
What genre best describes Hermione Lee's biography of Penelope Fitzgerald?
A) Literary biography
B) Autobiography
C) Self-help book
D) Science fiction
- 2. When was Penelope Fitzgerald born?
A) 1905
B) 1920
C) 1930
D) 1916
- 3. What was Fitzgerald's first published novel?
A) The Blue Flower
B) Offshore
C) The Bookshop
D) The Golden Child
- 4. At what age did Fitzgerald publish her first novel?
A) 42
B) 35
C) 58
D) 65
- 5. Which Fitzgerald novel won the Booker Prize?
A) The Bookshop
B) Offshore
C) The Beginning of Spring
D) Innocence
- 6. What was distinctive about Fitzgerald's literary career?
A) She started publishing late in life
B) She wrote only in French
C) She wrote only poetry
D) She published over 50 novels
- 7. Which of these is considered Fitzgerald's masterpiece?
A) The Golden Child
B) The Blue Flower
C) Human Voices
D) At Freddie's
- 8. What historical figure is The Blue Flower about?
A) German Romantic poet Novalis
B) Charles Dickens
C) Queen Victoria
D) William Shakespeare
- 9. What was Fitzgerald's family background?
A) Military family
B) Wealthy industrialists
C) Intellectual and literary family
D) Farming family
- 10. Which literary magazine did Fitzgerald work for?
A) The New Yorker
B) Granta
C) London Review of Books
D) World Review
- 11. How many novels did Fitzgerald publish?
A) Nine
B) Twelve
C) Fifteen
D) Five
- 12. Which novel draws on Fitzgerald's experience working at the BBC?
A) Human Voices
B) Innocence
C) Offshore
D) The Bookshop
- 13. Which novel is set in a London theater school?
A) The Gate of Angels
B) At Freddie's
C) The Beginning of Spring
D) The Bookshop
- 14. What was Fitzgerald's father's profession?
A) Politician
B) Doctor
C) Editor of Punch magazine
D) University professor
- 15. Which novel is set in pre-revolutionary Moscow?
A) Innocence
B) The Blue Flower
C) The Gate of Angels
D) The Beginning of Spring
- 16. How does Lee characterize Fitzgerald's writing style?
A) Ornate and elaborate
B) Economical and precise
C) Minimalist and sparse
D) Stream-of-consciousness
- 17. What was significant about Fitzgerald's marriage?
A) She married a famous actor
B) She married three times
C) Her husband was unreliable with money
D) She never married
- 18. What recognition did The Blue Flower receive?
A) Pulitzer Prize
B) National Book Critics Circle Award
C) Whitbread First Novel Award
D) Nobel Prize
- 19. How did Fitzgerald's life experiences influence her writing?
A) She avoided personal themes
B) She drew heavily on personal experiences
C) She wrote only fantasy
D) She wrote only historical fiction
- 20. When did Fitzgerald die?
A) 2000
B) 1995
C) 2010
D) 2005
- 21. Where did Fitzgerald teach before becoming a writer?
A) A London hospital
B) A stage school
C) A diplomatic academy
D) Oxford University
- 22. Which novel draws on Fitzgerald's experience working in a bookshop?
A) At Freddie's
B) The Bookshop
C) Human Voices
D) The Beginning of Spring
- 23. Penelope Fitzgerald published her first novel at what age?
A) 52
B) 60
C) 45
D) 70
- 24. Which university did Penelope Fitzgerald attend?
A) Durham
B) London University
C) Oxford
D) Cambridge
- 25. What personal challenge did Fitzgerald face in the 1960s?
A) Writer's block
B) Family disputes
C) Poverty
D) Illness
- 26. What was the title of Fitzgerald's first published work?
A) Offshore
B) The Golden Child
C) Edward Burne-Jones
D) The Knox Brothers
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